Fastening down table-leaves



VLQJ. MASON.

TABLE.

Patented Apr. 8,1851.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS J. MASON, OF FRANKLINVILLE, NEVVYORK.

FASTENING DOWN TABLE-LEAVES.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 8,023, dated April 8, 1851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS J. MASON, of Franklinville, in the county ofCattaraugus and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in the Method of Constructing Table, ofwhich the followingis a full, clear, and exact descrip tion, reference being had to theaccompanyingdrawing, which forms part of this specification, and inWhich Figure 1 represents a View in perspective of one of my improvedtables. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same and Fig. 3is a view in perspective of one of the rails of the frame.

My improvements relate to the manner in which the frame of the table isput together and to the method of securing a table top to its frame insuch manner that while it isfirmly attached to the frame it can readilybe removed therefrom to allow other table tops of different size andconstruction to be substituted in its place, thus making a single frameanswer for table tops of different sizes.

My table frame as represented in the accompanying drawing is formed offour legs a a a a and as many rails 12, b, b, b, by means of which thelegs are connected. These rails have each two dowel pins 0. 0 formedupon each of their extremities as shown at Fig. 3, and correspondingdowel holes are made in the adjacent faces of the legs a The inner faceof each rail has a groove plowed in it to admit a long bolt cl which ispassed through corresponding holes made in the legs. The head of thisbolt is round as'shown at e and the hole in the leg through which it isintroduced is countersunk to a sufiicient depth to receive the head. Thecorresponding hole in the opposite leg is also countersunk to admit thenutf of the bolt.

When the table frame isto be put-together the dowel pins of the railsare entered in their respective dowel holes in the legs; the bolts arethen inserted and their screw cut extremities are entered by turning intheir. respective nuts, the several bolts are then screwed up by turningtheir heads, by

which operation the rails and legs are drawn 5 together and secured in amanner which is. both simple and firm, and which at the. same timeadmits of their being readily taken apart (by unscrewing the bolts) forthe purpose of more conveniently removing the table from place to place.

In the manufacture of the finer qualities of tables I intend to make theheads and nuts of the bolts of such form that they shall constitute anornamental appendage to the table.

In order to enhance the value and convenience of tables I construct aset of tops of difierent forms and dimensions for each table frame sothat the user, by changing the tops can vary his table to suit anyparticular purpose. In order to have a ready means of securing thesediiferent table tops to the same frame I secure to the side rails of thelatter a pair of rings 9, g, which proj ect toward each other from theinner sides of the opposite rails. A corresponding pair of elbow shapedbolts k are secured to the inner side of each table top in such mannerthat when any one top is placed upon the frame and is moved into itsproper positions these bolts shall enter the corresponding rings of theframe as shown at Fig. 2, and hold the top down upon the frame. Thesefastenings also prevent the top from moving sidewise and from movingendwise in one direction. In order to. prevent it from moving endwise inthe opposite direction and at the same time to prevent it from twistingupon the frame a spring catch it is secured to one of the end rails b ofthe frame and a socket i is made in the under table top on the frame ismoved into its proper position the spring catch engages in itsappropriate hole and locks the table top firmly in its place. M

-When one top is to be removed either for the purpose of carrying thetable about or to make room for a top of different size or form thespring catch is detached from the socket and the top is moved far enoughon the frame to withdraw the bolts from their respective rings g and thetable top being thus disengaged from the frame, can be removed; Anotherone of the set can then be substituted for it and secured in place inthe same manner as the first one.-

This method of constructing tables is extremely convenient particularlywhen applied to dining tables, as a table top of suitable size to dine agiven number of persons can be readily substituted for the one generallyin use bythe family.

What I claim as my invention and desire In testimony whereof I havehereunto subto secure by Letters fzfatent isb f scribed my name.

The combination 0 devices y means 0 which table tops of different formsand LEWIS MASON 5 dimensions can be readily secured to and Witnesses:

disconnected from the same frame as herein I. S. SMITH, set forth. P. H.WVATsoN.

